Qualified for the final stages in nine out of ten series, the Blues collected eleven medals this Saturday in the light winds which swept the Var bay, including two gold on the iQfoil board (new Olympic board), with the reigning world champions Hélène Noesmoen and Nicolas Goyard, five in silver and four in bronze.
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“It was a good week, I managed to win races in all the wind conditions, that’s great, reacts Noesmoen who dominated the competition (Delphine Cousin, 3rd). I had the status of leader last year, but you never know how it will go after the winter preparation. It’s good news to have confirmed in Palma and here. »
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“There were some very good ones but there was a lack of people in iQfoil, there was not a high density. It still allows you to settle down and get your bearings”
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“Now we have the European Championship (May 17 in Italy) coming soon, we’ll try to do as wellshe continues. I feel that the level is getting denser, even if I have a little technical mastery which allows me to look around a little more, sometimes, and to better anticipate certain crossings and certain tactical positions. »
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His sidekick Nicolas Goyard also secured his place with authority ahead of his compatriot Clément Bourgeois. “It was a very good training session to get in shape for the European Championship on Lake Gardahe observes. It was necessary because I hadn’t raced for three to four months. »
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“There were some very good ones but there was a lack of people in iQfoil, there was not a high densityhe adds. It still allows you to settle down and get your bearings. The speed is there, the regatta was clean, I have some technical adjustments to make. I feel ready for Europe and that’s what you have to remember. »
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The kitefoilers at the rendezvous
If the top step of the podium escaped them, the tricolor kitefoilers were also there. Vice-world champion, Axel Mazella finished second behind the untouchable Singaporean Maximilian Maeder, Maxime Nocher catching the bronze. “I’m super happy and I knew that Maximilian was coming back very strong after the work done this winter.he comments. We’re going to have to work to get it, I particularly lack speed in light airs. »
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Axel Mazella finished second in Hyères. (Sailing Energy/© sailing energy / ffvoile)
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Among the girls, Lauriane Nolot, 3rd at the Worlds in 2021, finished second, as in Palma. “I’m getting closer to the first but I couldn’t get my revengeshe says. But I’m super happy, I have the speed, it’s more at the tactical and technical level that I have to work on. I will do the maximum of events to fill my gaps. I’ve only been kiting for five or six years, before that I did seven years of riding! »
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Silver is also the color of metal conquered by the very young Aloïse Retornaz-Hippolyte Machetti duo (who replaced Kevin Peponnet who left for the SailGP circuit) who posted a very good performance after only four training sessions together.
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“We really have potential in the ten series. There is a winning dynamic that is being put in place. We have to keep it, it’s our engine “
Philippe Mourniac, director of the French team
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“Finishing second, after a few days of training and competition, is a great satisfactiondeclares Retornaz, 3rd at the Tokyo Olympics with Camille Lecointre. It’s off to a flying start, but we know there’s a lot of work to be done to get gold next time. “It’s super motivating and promisingcontinues Machetti. Our big deadlines will be after the summer, with the Euro in Turkey and the Worlds in October in Israel. We will prepare for it as well as possible. »
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Finally, a great performance for Marie Barrué (2nd) and Louise Cervera (3rd) in Ilca 6, and Erwan Fischer and Clément Péquin, 3rd in 49er, who confirmed their position in the world hierarchy after their victory in Palma. “The overall balance is very positive.believes Philippe Mourniac, director of the France team. We really have potential in the ten series. There is a winning dynamic that is being put in place. We have to keep it, it’s our driving force, we all have to move towards the goal of summer 2024 in Marseille. »
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